August 31, 2012

Biden to take on Paul Ryan in Ohio: Folks, let's take a look at the facts

Vice President Joe Biden today will take on his rival's remarks before the Republican National Convention, suggesting there was some stretching of the truth.

"You heard Congressman Ryan on Wednesday night, blame the closing of a GM plant in his hometown of Janesville on the President. Folks, let’s look at the facts," Biden said, according to prepared remarks. "Congressman Ryan was right about one thing. It was devastating for the community and those people.

"But what he didn’t tell you was that plant in Janesville actually closed while President Bush was still in office.

"And what they didn’t say is, but for the sacrifices you made, and the courage of the President, all those GM plants would have closed.

"The 200,000 auto workers who’ve been added to the employment rolls would not be working. And a million jobs would have been lost.

"GM wouldn’t have been reorganized. It would have been liquidated. Along with Chrysler.

"And as the Chairman of the Board of Ford told me, without a reorganization, they would have been devastated too -- because the supply chain would have evaporated.

“What they didn’t say is because of the auto rescue, there are 4,500 of you working here today. And GM is adding 2 shifts.

"And GM just announced they’re investing another $200 million in Lordstown.

"And combined, the auto companies have committed to invest billions in expansion, not the Bain way, not in Mexico, not in China, not in Vietnam, but in Lordstown, in Detroit, in Toledo, in Cleveland.

In America.

“And what they didn’t acknowledge is Governor Romney’s position was Let Detroit Go Bankrupt.

“He said if we stepped in to help, GM would be ‘the living dead.’

“You know, he is absolutely against the federal government or any government using funds to save jobs, to save industries.

“It’s bad business, he says.

“Except when it comes to his business.

“Let me quote from recent reporting. ‘Romney was willing to go to extremes to secure a federal bailout’ when Bain Consulting was on the verge of collapse.

“The way they reorganized cost the government $10 million.

“Imagine that—

“It was one thing when a million middle class jobs were on the line. It was another when his own financial interests were on the line. And—now—they say they care about the middle class?"